Game apparatus.



W, STEVENSON.

GAME APPARATUS."

APPLICATION FILED APR.24,1908.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. STEVENSON.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24. 1908.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WHITFIELD STEVENSON, OI ORESTLINE, OHIO.

GAME APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VHITFIELD STEVEN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crestline, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to pro vide a device of the character aforesaid which will both afford amusement and at the same time be instructive and which will enable a variety of games being played, the construction insuring interest being maintained because of the relative arrangement ofthe parts and the facility with which the device may be adapted for different games.

The apparatus is of the type embodying a bed or alley, pins or objects at one end of the alley and pivotally supported thereover, and balls, marbles or like missiles adapted to be projected over the bed or alley and come in contact with the pins or objects and overturn the same, the balls automatically returning to the players end of the bed or alley, the device embodying means for admitting of the 'pins being reset by means of a cord extending to the players end so as to be conveniently grasped and pulled upon.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the rear end of the alley. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the rear end of the alley, having the pins and cooperating parts in normal position and the dotted lines showing the ball-stop elevated and the resetting-rail depressed. Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section, the full lines showing the position of the pins when played or overturned by being struck by a ball and the dotted lines showing the normal position of the pins. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 24, 1908.

Patented Dec. "2?, 1999.

Serial No. 429,020.

the rear end of the bed or alley, looking toward the front. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of one of the pins and the weight cooperating therewith, said weight being detached from the pin.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. A

The apparatus may be constructed of any material, and provided in any suitable and convenient size and comprises a bed 1 having a pit 2 at its rear end and spaces at opposite sides protected by guards 3. The pit 2 inclines toward one side of the bed and leads into a return-way 4 so as to deliver the balls, marbles or like missiles thereto. The end portion of the bed adjacent to the pit 2 is provided with spots arranged to receive the pins in the event of using the device for bowling. The bed 1 may consist of a board or other device providing a surface over which the balls are rolled or projected. A suitable framework supports the bed and comprises legs or posts 5 and cross pieces 6. The longitudinal space at one side of the bed is closed at its bottom by means of a strip 7 forming with the contiguous guard S and the edge of the bed a trough to receive the balls when leaving the bed or alley in the playing of the game. The space 8 at the opposite side of the bed is open and in vertical line with the return-way 4 so that any ball leaving the alley and dropping through the space 8 is received in the return-way 4 and guided to the players end of the bed. The cross pieces 6 project be yond opposite sides of the bed and support the guards 3. The return-way 4: inclin es from the rear end of the alley toward the front or players end so as to return the balls to the player.

A series of pins 9 are pivotally suspended over the rear portion of the bed or alley and are mounted upon a rod 10, which latter is supported at its ends in uprights 11 secured to the ends of the rear cross-piece and to the guards 3 and projecting above the alley and having slots 12 to receive the rod 10, said slots opening through the vertical edges of the uprights to admit of placing the rod 10 in position therein or removing said rod therefrom, as may be required. The pins 9 are supported so as normally to occupy an approximately vertical position, so as to be played or overturned insuring a resetting of the pins.

readily when their lower ends are struck by a ball, marble or the like coming in contact therewith. The pins are strung upon the rod 10 and are spaced apart by means of washers 13. The upper ends of the pins are weighted, each weight consisting of a block 1 and a shank 15. The shank of each weight is secured to the upper end of a pin and the block 14: is arranged in the rear of the pin with its front end in contact with the rear side of the pin, thereby throwing the weight in the rear of a line passed vertically through the rod 10, with the result that the weight normally serves to hold the pin in normal position, thereby preventing its being overturned or played by a jar with the result that it is essential that the lower end of the pin be struck by a ball in order to insure its play. A rail 16 forms a rest for the pins and holds the same in given position. The rail 17 located below the rest-rail 16, forms a stop to arrest the motion of the pins when played or overturned. The rails 16 and 17 may be slipped into openings provided in the upper portions of the parts 11 by an endwise movement thereby admitting of the upper portion of the bed being unobstructed should it be required to play ten-pins, cocked hat or other game requiring pins or like objects to be set upon the bed.

A. resetting rail 18 is arranged in the rear of the rod 10 and rails 16 and 17 and is mounted so as to be thrown downward and thereby effect a returning of the pins to normal position alter being played or overturned. The resetting rail 18 is provided between its ends with arms 19 which terminate in eyes 20 through which the rod 1.0 is passed, thereby supporting said rail 18 and admitting of its swinging movements. A cord or rope 21 is connected at its rear end to the resetting rail andpasses through a guide eye 22, thence to the front end of the bed to be conveniently grasped by the player to be pulled upon when it is required to operate the resetting-rail to return any played pins to normal position.

A ball stop 23 is arranged in the rear portion of the return-way 4 to arrest the balls, marbles or the like, thereby preventing their return to the players end of the alley after A cord, rope or like connection 2% is secured at one end to the ballstop and is made fast at its opposite end to the resetting-rail and passes through a guide eye 25 intermediate of its end. When the resetting rail is depressed,

the end of the cord 2% attached thereto, is

lowered and the opposite end being correspondingly elevated raises the ballstop, thereby clearing the return-way and permitting the balls located in the rear end thereof to pass to the front end of said return-way. The part 23 serves the dual function of a so arranged that a pair of pins when played count ten. 'Counting from left to right the numbers appear in the following order, 8, 2, G, 4, 5, 3, 7, 1, 9. It will thus be understood that the extreme left hand pair, if played counts 10. The next pair, if played at the same time, likewise counts 10. The pair of pins immediately to the right of the center pin also counts 10, as well as the pair at the extreme right. In the event of each player being allotted six balls, it is possible to play four pairs and the single middle pin by live balls, making forty-five and leaving a spare, and when playing the spare it is possible to make ten more by overturning a pair or couplet, thereby making in all fifty-five counts in one inning. This adds greatly to the interest of the game. Holders 26 are applied to the upper portions of the pins and receive cards, tickets or slips bearing the numbers. In this connection it may be stated that the numbers may be replaced by letters, or pictorial or descriptive matter of any nature, thereby rendering the game both instructive, as well as a source of amusement. The cards to be placed in the holders 96 may bear matter according to the educational subject to be instilled into the minds of the players.

hen it is required to play ten-pins or any similar game requiring the objects to be set upon the bed of the alley, the rod 10 bearing the pins 9, together with. the several rails, is removed, thereby clearing the rear end of the bed or alley so that the pins or objects to be knocked down may be placed thereon. The pit receives the balls and being transversely inclined directs the same into the return-way which insures their delivery at the front end of the alley in convenient position for the players.

The missiles to be projected against the pins consist of small balls 27 or marbles which may be of any material according to the cost of the apparatus. For convenience, the missiles are designated as balls, it being understood that the term is descriptive of any round object to be rolled or projected over the bed or alley to strike a selected pin or pins and play or overturn the same.

lVhile the balls may be impelled over the bed in any manner, it is preferred to provide projecting means, the same consisting of an elastic 28 and a block 29. The elastic 28 is arranged transversely of the bed at the players end and is sustained by pins 30 or like means. The block 29 is oblong and is transversely bored to receive the elastic 28 which is passed therethrough. This admits of moving the block or turning the same to any convenient position to effect any desired result. Upon drawing the block 29 toward the front of the bed, the elastic 28 is stretched and upon releasing said block, the latter is thrown forward by the action of the elastic, and a ball 27 placed in front of the block, is caused to move rapidly over the bed or alley and coming in contact with the lower end of the pin or adjacent pins plays or overturns the same. Should the ball thus played pass over the rear end of the bed it is i mal position by pulling upon the cord or like part 21, this operation at the same time resulting in a lifting of the ball-stop and a release of the balls arrested thereby to permit their return to the players end of the bed to be again used by the next player.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is z 1. In game apparatus the combination of an alley having a pit at one end and provided with a return way, said alley adapted to have balls projected thereover, pins suspended over the rear end of the alley and adapted to be overturned by the balls projected over the alley, a resetting rail for returning the pins to normal position, a stop located in the return way for arresting the forward movement of the balls and connecting means between the stop and resetting rail to admit of said stop acting as a counterbalance for returning the resetting rail to normal position, and actuating means connected with the resetting rail to admit of operating the same and the stop when it is required to return the pins to normal position and to permit the played balls to return to the front end of the alley.

2. Game apparatus comprising an alley having a pit at its rear end and a return way in communication with said pit, upright at the sides of the alley, a rod mounted ley, pins pivotally mounted upon said rod, a resetting rail for returning the pins to normal position mounted upon said up- 111 said uprights and extended across the al- 5 rights, a stop arranged in the return way, a cord attached at one end to the stop and at its opposed end to the resetting rail and passed over a guide intermediate of its ends arranged near the top of one of said uprights, and an operating cord having connection with the resetting rail and extending to the players end of the alley.

3. Game apparatus comprising an alley, uprights at the sides of the alley, a rod mounted in said uprights, pins pivotally mounted upon said rod, means for holding the pins in normal position and limiting their movement when displaced, a resetting rail having end portions bent in the same direction to provide arms terminating in eyes which receive the rod upon which the pins are mounted and an operating cord attached to said resetting rail to return the parts to normal position.

4. Game apparatus comprising an alley, uprights at the sides of the alley having slots extended through their vertical edges, a rod removably mounted in said slots, pins pivotally mounted upon said rod, a resetting rail mounted upon said rod and movable therewith, other rods movably mounted in said uprights and serving to limit the movements of the pins, both when played and when in normal position, and operating means connected with said resetting rail.

5. Game apparatus comprising an alley having a return way at one side and a transversely inclined pit at the rear end to deliver the played balls into said return way, uprights at the sides of the alley, arod movably mounted in the uprights, pins pivotally mounted upon said rod, a resetting rail having its end portions bent and terminating in eyes through which the said rod passes, other rods removably mounted in the uprights and serving to hold the pins in given position both when played and when in normal position, a stop located in the return way, a cord connected at its ends to, respectively,said resetting rail and stop, a guide near the upper end of one of said uprights to receive the cord connecting the stop and resetting rail, and an operating cord connected to the resetting rail for moving the same from the players end of the alley.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

winrrirrn srrvrnsor. [n s] -Witnesses F. NEWMAN, B. H. TONY. 

